Buddhist Civilization dawn in Lalmai and Mainamati Area

Lalmai-Mainamati is a much known name in our Archaeological heritage. It is related to our socio-economic condition in early of south eastern Bengal. It is situated near 6-8 km from the west of Comilla town and 80 km to the east and south corner of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Lalmai is indistinguishable with Lalamvi-vana of the Chandra epigraphy, while the name of Mainamati is very closes in literary Chandra queen 'Maynamati'. The archaeological researches have to establish rich literary and material placed of early Vanga-Samatata.

Local people called it (Shalban Vihara) previously as Shalban Raja’s Place. The vihara located alt the middle of the Mainamati and Lalmai Hill range. Nevertheless, today Mainamati especially in Shalban Vihara and along with other Buddhist remains exposed by excavators in 1955. It was showing a large Paharpur style Buddhist monastery and riches of material objects dated from the 6th to 11th centuries AD. After excavation archeologist found 550 square feet Buddhist Monatry. The Monastery consisting of 115 monastic cells was build a round a spacious courtyard with a cruciform temple in the center. The monastery has 174 feet long from north to the south and 3 and half feet wide brick paved path and entered through a 74 feet wide gateway. There is an entrance hall measuring 32x23 feet from where a flight of steps lead to the inside of the monastery courtyard. The entrance hall is flanked on both side by two guard rooms which followed by monastic cells. Excavation was carried out many valuable Antiquities as follows:

• Twelve Copperplates
• Image inscriptions made from terracotta
• Around 450 gold and silver coins
• Large number of terracotta plaque
• Seals and Sealings made of clay
• Axes and Chisels made from Neolithic stones
• A large number of sculptures made from stone, bronze and terracotta
• Beads made of stone and terracotta
• Ornaments made of gold, silver and bronze
• Pots which made from metal and earthenware
• Kitchen utensils like Pans and vases
• Oil lamps along with  a variety of other objects which uses of everyday life

Other Archaeological or Buddhist Remarkable sites are;

• Ananda vihara (Ananda Raja’s Place)
• Kutila mura
• Bhoja vihara
• Rupban Kanya’s Place
• Rupban Mura
• Kotbari Mura
• Itakhola mura
• Bairagir Mura
• Kutila Mura

Finally, we may conclude with above mention available artifacts from the excavation of Shalban Vihara suggest, however time duration from early sixth to eighth century for the Shalban vihara. It is also suggested that the monastery was in utilize until the period of the Chandra dynasty in the eleventh century A.D significantly. Now it is a protected area by archeological Department of Bangladesh. People from home and abroad are coming here only to see or picnic purpose. You may take decision to visit of Shalban Monastery to increase knowledge about ancient monastery life of this area and mental recreation.